in Saigon

Thoughts I've Had While Stranded in Murky Floodwater on Saigon's High-Tide Days

I’m willing to forgive nearly everything about Saigon. It’s a sign of a sustainable relationship, as I still wish to coexist in peace with this city. To me, Saigon’s midday, even when the searing sun flares the strongest, is when the trees are the most glorious. The sudden bouts of torrential rain are indeed a nuisance, but I tell myself that at least the streets can get a wash after a dusty day. But there’s one thing that never goes away and that I can never write off; something I can’t, for the life of me, find reasons to romanticize or defend. Those are the infuriating floods that submerge Saigon streets every time the tide is high.

in Saigon

Saigon Sees a 10-Year Low of 18°C. What Are the City’s Highest and Lowest Temperatures?

This January, Saigoneers have been enjoying an unusually pleasant stretch of weather, with daytime temperatures hovering around the mid-20s and dipping to 18–20°C late at night and in the early morning.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Bans Unskippable Ads, Requires Skip Button to Appear After 5 Seconds

If things go our way, YouTube’s notorious unskippable ads might be a thing of the past come this February.

in Vietnam

Grindr Year-End Report Names Vietnam as Country With Biggest Top Shortage

Ever since Spotify launched its first global Wrapped function a few years ago, December has turned into an exciting season of stats-driven year-end reviews. “Wrapping” is now a tradition embraced by numerous apps, such as Strava, Duolingo, YouTube, Reddit, and of course, Grindr.

in Vietnam

When Donations Are All Womenswear, Men in Flood Zones Turn Necessity Into Fashion

Vietnam’s South-Central Coast region is going through an especially grueling time of the year as both the local people and authorities have to deal with the aftermath of historic rainfall and flooding. Still, amid the mourning and strenuous rebuilding efforts, moments of levity shine through — a testament to the resilience, optimism, and incredible humor of the Vietnamese people in the face of hardships.

in Vietnam

Đắk Lắk, Khánh Hòa Are Next Victims of 2025's Historic Flooding. Here's How to Help.

After nearly a week of constant downpour, many provinces of Vietnam’s Central Highlands and South-Central Coast regions have suffered severe flooding and landslides, causing catastrophic damage to local infrastructure, economic activities, and deaths. This has been yet another month of loss and destruction for Vietnam in 2025, which is shaping up to be the most devastating year in recent history due to consecutive powerful typhoons and atypically high rainfall.

in Saigon

After Years in Limbo, Saigon's Metro Line 2 Is Officially Breaking Ground in Jan 2026

After years under development limbo, Saigon’s Metro Line 2 has finally gotten an official date for breaking ground, but will this timeline stick?

in Saigon

Outlaw Ostrich Arrested in Bình Dương for Disrupting Public Order

In case you need a pick-me-up on this dreary rainy Friday, here’s a dose of “độc lạ Bình Dương” quackery.

Back Stories

in Vietnam

Hanoi Opera House To Be Repainted, Returned To Its Original Color

In what seems to be a repeat of the paint scandal that recently hit Saigon’s Central Post Office, Hanoi authorities have announced that the city’s 104-year-old opera house will soon return to its orig...

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Project Gives Facelift To Iconic Turtle Lake

Growing greenhouse gas level requires workable solutions [Vietnam Plus] More than 16,000 residents in HCMC bitten by mad animals [SGGP] Vietnam spends $463 million on imported pesticides [Vietnam Ne...

in Vietnam

[Video] Manchester City Destroys Vietnam 8-1, VN Fans Irate After Being Ignored By Players

Manchester City easily handled the Vietnamese national football team last night, winning by a score of 8-1 at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium with three doubles by David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Aleksandar ...

in Vietnam

[Photos] Deadly Floods Devastate Quang Ninh Province

Three days of continuous rains have ravaged the northern province of Quang Ninh, turning streets into rivers and killing at least three people.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Artists Propose Ways To Enliven Ho Chi Minh City Pedestrian Street

Cai Rang among world’s six busiest floating markets [Vietnam Net] Viet Nam's stock market helps drive the economy [Vietnam News] Number of Vietnamese visiting Japan soars [VoV]

in Vietnam

Hanoi Police To Patrol City On Bikes To Build "Friendly" Image

In order to create a friendlier public image, Hanoi will soon have some of its police officers patrol the city on bicycles.

in Vietnam

Weekend News Roundup: Teachers Talk Less During Lessons Under New Methodology

German news agency apologizes to Vietnam defense minister for false death report [Tuoi Tre] Vietnamese arrested in Japan for cyber revenge on former employer [Thanh Nien] Vietnam’s first heart-lung ...

in Vietnam

Experts Outraged After Hanoi Opera House Repainted Without Permission

In a story (and color) eerily reminiscent of the Saigon Post Office’s botched paint job earlier this year, experts are blasting the new, garish shade of Hanoi’s 104-year-old opera house.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: HCMC Wants Longer Visa Exemption For European Tourists

Hanoi aims to offer top welfare services by 2020 [Vietnam Plus] HCM City monorail line No 2 gets new costly project quotation [SGGP] Huge FDI projects withdraw from Vietnam and the consequences [Vie...

in Asia

Singapore Refuses Entry, Sends A Number Of Vietnamese Visitors Home Without Explanation

Vietnam will soon ask its Singaporean counterparts for an explanation as to why a number of mostly female passengers were recently denied entry into the country.

in Vietnam

Foreigners In Vietnam Will Be Able To Get International Driving Permits This Year

Vietnam will begin to issue International Driving Permits (IDPs) for locals and foreigners this October.

in Asia

[Video] Massive "Komodo Dragons" Are Crawling Through Bangkok's Sewers

Though Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis, parts of the city have proved to be excellent incubators for wildlife.

in Saigon

Saigon To Get $5.9m River Bus System

Saigon has long neglected the potential of its waterways for public transportation, a trend that the city’s Department of Transportation hopes to reverse with river busses.

in Vietnam

Phu Tho Man Jailed For Stealing His Own Motorbike

Desperation drives people to do unwise things, like breaking out your motorbike from a police garage. Such is the story of Do Son Tung from the northern province of Phu Tho.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: Vietnamese Parents Spend $1.8 Billion/Year For Children’s Overseas Studies

Can Tho receives first direct flight from Bangkok [SGGP] Vietnam behind in tourism workforce race in Southeast Asia, experts fear [Thanh Nien] Vietnam plans to end EVN monopoly in power market ...

in Asia

[Video] China Is Transforming Beijing Into A Supercity 10 Times The Size Of Saigon

China is doing away with strict, decades-old policies that sought to limit the size or Beijing, instead putting the wheels in motion to transform the megacity into a supercity capable of supporting a ...

in Vietnam

Vietnamese Banks Charging ATM Card Holders 30 Kinds of Fees

Taking a page out of their Western counterparts’ playbooks, Vietnamese banks are now charging ATM cardholders a slew of fees to withdraw funds and maintain their accounts.

in Vietnam

Morning News Roundup: 10 Vietnamese Officials Found Using Fake High School Diplomas For Decades

In Vietnam, collagen makes way into hotpot, sausage as panacea [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam Register disciplines corrupt vehicle inspectors in Ho Chi Minh City [Tuoi Tre] Vietnam to build $2.5 billion seaport...

in Saigon

Vietnam Breaks Ground on Country’s Highest Bridge in Saigon

Work on Phuoc Khanh Bridge began in Saigon last Saturday, which, once completed, will have the highest vertical clearance of any bridge in Vietnam.

in Vietnam

Da Nang Threatens To Close Coca-Cola Factory For Dumping Raw Sewage

Coca-Cola is stirring up controversy yet again in Vietnam, with Da Nang threatening to close down its factory following complaints that the multinational corporation has been dumping untreated waste i...